Co-transcriptional recruitment of Puf6 by She2 couples translational repression to mRNA localization

Messenger RNA (mRNA) localization is coupled to the translational repression of transcripts during their transport. It is still unknown if this coupling depends on physical interactions between translational control and mRNA localization machineries, and how these interactions are established at the molecular level. In yeast, localization of transcripts like ASH1 to the bud depends on the RNA-binding protein She2. During its transport, ASH1 mRNA translation is repressed by Puf6. Herein, we report that She2 recruits Puf6 on ASH1 co-transcriptionally. The recruitment of Puf6 depends on prior co-transcriptional loading of Loc1, an exclusively nuclear protein. These proteins form a ternary complex, in which Loc1 bridges Puf6 to She2, that binds the ASH1 3′UTR. Using a genome-wide ChIP-chip approach, we identified over 40 novel targets of Puf6, including several bud-localized mRNAs. Interestingly, the co-transcriptional recruitment of Puf6 on genes coding for these bud-localized mRNAs is also She2- and Loc1-dependent. Our results suggest a coordinated assembly of localization and translational control machineries on localized mRNAs during transcription, and underline the importance of co-transcriptional events in establishing the cytoplasmic fate of mRNAs.